Fly cx over AA?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: PHX
Programs: AA, United
Posts: 21
Fly cx over AA?
Newbie here,
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
#2
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
Newbie here,
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
If you want AA miles and do not have any status at all, why don't you fly with AA (which does offer LAX-HKG)? Was the schedule inconvenient?
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
Newbie here,
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
I have an upcoming trip and want to earn miles, but afraid my CX flights won't earn any AA miles. I can't pony up for premium economy or business, and the economy fare bucket isn't Y. I could still fly Cathay from LAX to HKG on the way over (as I've never flown them and have heard great things for Economy), and do AA or even United coming back. I have no status on anything, but would like to at least bank some miles flying all that way. Any suggestion would be great!
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
#7
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
flying on JL keeps the flight shorter which is good for preventing DVT
and you can avoid selfish AA flyers talking over skype which throws a wrench into the system and is a waste of time for anyone else who wants to use the wifi. JL bans voip and most cx flight hasnt got wifi yet.
and you can avoid selfish AA flyers talking over skype which throws a wrench into the system and is a waste of time for anyone else who wants to use the wifi. JL bans voip and most cx flight hasnt got wifi yet.
#8
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
if you want AA miles, the flight via tokyo actually gets you a little more and sometimes its cheaper. sometimes the codeshare flight gets you the JL metal too.
Last edited by kaka; Apr 5, 2019 at 6:25 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Jose, CA
Programs: CX Diamond, AA CK (quit 2018), Starwood Platinum, National EXC Elite
Posts: 283
AA’s operational reliability is terrible. Plus given the timing of that flight, when goes MX or otherwise, generally hosed in regard to being protected same day to get out to Asia. CX have 3 flights a day (was 4?) to HKG. I’d go with CX, no question.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
LAX-HKG fares are generally pretty cheap (routinely ~$400 RT), so your earnings on an AA coded flight are going to be fairly minimal. Example: a $700 AA ticket on LAX-HKG (of which $90 is taxes) will only earn around 3k miles. You really can't do much of anything with that, so unless you plan to continue to fly oneworld on a somewhat regular basis I wouldn't overthink your decision here.
I'd suggest flying the carrier with the best balance of cost, timing and inflight product.
Also, AA food in J and F is pretty dire (can't speak to long haul food offerings in Y on either carrier). CX definitely has a clear competitive advantage on this score. Cabin service on CX is also worlds more consistent than AA. AA can be fine, but it's very hit or miss (more miss than hit, in my experience).
I'd suggest flying the carrier with the best balance of cost, timing and inflight product.
Also, AA food in J and F is pretty dire (can't speak to long haul food offerings in Y on either carrier). CX definitely has a clear competitive advantage on this score. Cabin service on CX is also worlds more consistent than AA. AA can be fine, but it's very hit or miss (more miss than hit, in my experience).
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,031
2. I certainly agree that 4 flights is better than 1, but when the AA flight goes tits up, they will usually endorse you to CX
3. IIRC, getting AA miles on CX flights requires an H fare or higher; this is expensive
4. I think the NRT connection idea is dumb on multiple levels
-you get 20 more miles, BUT the JL flight will probably only accrue at 70%, which is obviously a net loss v the AA nonstop
-as much as I dislike AA's 10-abreast 77Ws, the planes JL flies NRT-HKG are worse
#13
Just to add my latest experience recently in Y on CX [I've not flown CX in Y for the last 4 years], albeit not between US and HKG, I found that the standard of service on CX in Y to have gone down dramatically (based on 2 long-haul flights)
- Cabin Attendants are rather surly and arrogant
- food quality if ok - though seem to be much smaller
- cabin attendants seem to 'dissapear' after the meal service - did not notice any offerings of water/liquid throughout the flight. Even going back to the gallery to get water/snack - attendants were quite surly (like even you going back there to get your own items, it was a burden to them)
If i had a choice between the 3 considered airlines here I would go for
1) JL - even with the stop in at NRT (if the transfer time is about 2-3 hours) - to enjoy some Japanese shopping/food
2) AA - at least service (although not the best) - but still more or less consistent and you can mentally be prepared for it
3) CX
Cheers!
- Cabin Attendants are rather surly and arrogant
- food quality if ok - though seem to be much smaller
- cabin attendants seem to 'dissapear' after the meal service - did not notice any offerings of water/liquid throughout the flight. Even going back to the gallery to get water/snack - attendants were quite surly (like even you going back there to get your own items, it was a burden to them)
If i had a choice between the 3 considered airlines here I would go for
1) JL - even with the stop in at NRT (if the transfer time is about 2-3 hours) - to enjoy some Japanese shopping/food
2) AA - at least service (although not the best) - but still more or less consistent and you can mentally be prepared for it
3) CX
Cheers!
#14
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Just to add my latest experience recently in Y on CX [I've not flown CX in Y for the last 4 years], albeit not between US and HKG, I found that the standard of service on CX in Y to have gone down dramatically (based on 2 long-haul flights)
- Cabin Attendants are rather surly and arrogant
- food quality if ok - though seem to be much smaller
- cabin attendants seem to 'dissapear' after the meal service - did not notice any offerings of water/liquid throughout the flight. Even going back to the gallery to get water/snack - attendants were quite surly (like even you going back there to get your own items, it was a burden to them)
If i had a choice between the 3 considered airlines here I would go for
1) JL - even with the stop in at NRT (if the transfer time is about 2-3 hours) - to enjoy some Japanese shopping/food
2) AA - at least service (although not the best) - but still more or less consistent and you can mentally be prepared for it
3) CX
Cheers!
- Cabin Attendants are rather surly and arrogant
- food quality if ok - though seem to be much smaller
- cabin attendants seem to 'dissapear' after the meal service - did not notice any offerings of water/liquid throughout the flight. Even going back to the gallery to get water/snack - attendants were quite surly (like even you going back there to get your own items, it was a burden to them)
If i had a choice between the 3 considered airlines here I would go for
1) JL - even with the stop in at NRT (if the transfer time is about 2-3 hours) - to enjoy some Japanese shopping/food
2) AA - at least service (although not the best) - but still more or less consistent and you can mentally be prepared for it
3) CX
Cheers!
#15
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
flying on JL keeps the flight shorter which is good for preventing DVT
and you can avoid selfish AA flyers talking over skype which throws a wrench into the system and is a waste of time for anyone else who wants to use the wifi. JL bans voip and most cx flight hasnt got wifi yet.